Perpignan make comeback, Sale beat Cardiff in tense match

French champions Perpignan, who lost out 9-8 against Treviso in their opening Pool One clash, hit back in style with a 29-13 home win over Northampton who last week sent Munster packing with a 31-27 victory.

Both sides scored a brace of tries with Perpignan awarded a penalty try before David Marty crossed while Chris Ashton and Brian Mujati scored for the Englishmen.

But Jerome Porical, with five penalties, won the kicking battle with England hopeful Shane Geraghty who was successful just once.

Sale beat 2009 European Cup semi-finalists Cardiff Blues 27-26 in a tense Pool Five match on Friday, but the win was overshadowed by an injury suffered by England prop Andrew Sheridan.

Sheridan was believed to have dislocated his left shoulder which would sideline him from England's daunting Autumn international programme.

Fellow forward James Gaskell, just 19, played a starring role for Sale who had been beaten 36-17 by triple European champions Toulouse in their tournament opener last week.

Gaskell created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute and then added his own try in the second half. Fijian flanker Sisa Koyamaibole had claimed Sale's first try.

Cardiff, who had defeated Harlequins in their first match, saw Andy Powell score a try with Robin Sowden-Taylor pouncing on a loose ball to claim their second in the 79th minute.

Ben Blair converted to cut the gap to one point, but Sale held on to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

"It was a great win, we needed it. It could have been a better result I feel although I'm sure the Blues will disagree," said Sale coach Kingsley Jones.

"We gave away nine soft points in the first half, but I'm very pleased with the 15 minutes either side of the half as we showed what we can do."

There was better luck for Cardiff's fellow Welshmen with Newport Gwent Dragons, beaten by Gloucester last time out, clinching a 22-14 win over Glasgow.

The Dragons took an early lead as Adam Jones was driven over for a try before John Beattie replied for the Scots.

But Luke Charteris and Martyn Thomas both scored before the interval for a 22-7 lead.

Kevin Tkachuk trimmed the deficit for Glasgow before Dan Parks missed a penalty with the last kick of the match which would have given his side a losing bonus point.